What would you consider as a Lemon?

[Rob_B]

Where would you draw the line between general maintenance for the vehicle (mileage based stuff) and having a lemon? A good portion of the problems I've had recently are due to mileage and I can't really blaim anybody for that (needing a new battery, O2 sensors, etc.). I've had problems w/ it since day one w/ a bad 4X4 relay, needed a new valve body, A/C accumulator, door latch, and a drivers side hub assembly. It's a 98 w/ 72,x.. miles.

I really like my Explorer because it's a nice college vehicle, but I'll never ever buy one again (goin to an F-150 as soon as I get a decent job). My old truck never gave me a problem, was never in the shop, and only let me down once cause I neglected to bleed the clutch($5 dollar fix). Sometimes I feel like I've gone to the darkside w/ this. What do you think? Or am I jus really bored and wasting bandwidth?

 

[boaterboy204]

i think if you no longer like doin repairs to it (if you do them yourself) or it becomes too much of a hassle to get things fixed, youve got yourself a lemon. i know guys with rigs older than me that are barely more than lawn ornaments, but they wont get rid of them cause it gives them somethin to do. then you have people like my aunt who gets a new car every 2-3 years cause she doesnt like having to mess with the effects of aging. your explorer is about 6 years old, so its gonna have some growin pains...i have a 2000 limited and ive already had to spend about $2000 in repairs. expensive, yes, but i still think its worth it.

 

[bipolarbob]

Can't speak for 2nd gen....but all first gen's(I have and love one)are lemons.Overpriced, underpowered, overrated, unreliable, tranny blowing up every 40,000 k expensive to fix, no aftermarket parts available pieces of crap.I just like them.Not sure why.Maybe I am self- abusive.I also have a job where I get my ass spit at, scratched,punched and kicked every day and I have to grin and bear it.I think I have issues.I gotta go.I gotta call my therapist.

 

[JDraper]

A lemon is usually described as a new vehicle that has persistant critical problems that cannot be resolved by the dealer. Poorly built is a different issue....

As for the 1st gen's being all lemons, I have to disagree. My '92 Sport was a great vehicle. Only things we ever had to do to it outside of routine maintenance was replace the battery cable at about 80k miles and rebuild the manual tranny at 100k miles. Other than that, it performed flawlessly. I would love to have that truck back now. My '01 has been problematic. Front main seal leaked, rear windshield washer relay died twice, cruise control lights went out twice, driver's side door seal fell apart, ball joints were replaced at 26k, IAC valve went bad, jack compartment cover wouldn't stay shut. All fixed under warranty, but I think it shows how much Ford has cut corners to save costs up front....

 

[DaHeinah]

My 92 has been nothing but reliable. It has 130K miles and hasn't even seen a shop. I like the power, appearance, and reliability of my first gen! My dad and brother both have 2nd gens and they are still pumpinp strong. My dad has 180K miles on his limited 99 (he loves it ) with the V8 and it literally has not had a single problem! I guess that speaks for the V8 reliability. My bro bought a 97 V8 X after that and he is truly in love with his truck. Me, I'm sticking with my manly 1st gen
Greg
Just kidding- 2nd gens are manly too.

 

[bentley]

its just the luck of the draw. I too have a 98 sport with 107,000 miles. ive never had any problems with it. but i do alot of preventitive maintence. im sure that has something to do with it. as far as your sport being a lemon it all depends on how hard you drive it. if you stomp on it at every light then your asking for problems. (not saying you do) but i know people who abuse the crap out of their cars and then ***** and whine when something breaks. being almost 6 years old i dont think you can qualify it as a lemon. are you the original owner?

 

[boominXplorer]

from being here awhile i have noticed a few things.The 4wd system isn't the best in all explorers, v8s are a little better, 4.0 trannys just suck period unless you baby them. On the tranny issue the original tranny will last till around 110k miles or so then once its rebuilt it wont last half of that. I can't figure that out. ALL ford motors have very few problems outside the IAC and O2 sensors. Then again when they released the SOHC they were have problems with the tensioner and pidly stuff that could cause major problems. But all in all its just how you treat the car. If you change the oil regularly and dont beat the crap out of it it will last. If you always wax your car the shine will last longer. If you change the tranny fluid ever 30k it will last longer. If you change the brake pads before they go down to metal they rotor will last longer. It all just comes down to preventitive maintnace

 

[Soundguy01tx]

Why you gotsta be doggin on the first gen? My 91 has 144k miles on it, and only has been in for routine things (new clutch, Power Steering Pump, things that will go out after 100k...) Tranny has been ok until JUST recently, and its still drivable just do spend too long in 5th gear haha...
--Bryan

 

[Rob_B]

I do regularly maintain my Explorer, and I don't beat on it. I do take it out in the mud occasionally (jus a couple small mud puddles by my house), but for the most part I just take it back and forth to school and work. I'm pretty paranoid about taking care of it. I'm the second owner, I got it at 44,000 miles a almost 2 years ago. I'm just tired of the "check engine" light alway's being on from the last O2 sensor that's stuck on it, and how I was stranded last week when my battery died and I couldn't get a hold of my friends. The valvebody and A/C are what really upset me though.

 

[MONMIX]

JDraper is right. There actually is a legal definition of Lemon. I don't know if it is a dollar figure or what.
I know my friend sued Chrystler because her Neon was a lemon ( go figure )
In nine months she drove it for a total of four weeks combined. Less than 3k miles, new tranny, head gasket, window motors, a full repaint, various electrical components, cooling problems, AC never blew cold, rear defrost never worked, the list was endless.
They gave her the car and refunded her down payment and made payments ( less finance ) she left the car at the dealer.

And you thought you had a pos

 

[boaterboy204]

i had $1500 worth of "growing pains" as the shop called it, even though i had taken it in for a regular maintenance check two weeks before (nothing unusual was found). i dunno, that irritated me a little...but i still love my explorer, and i plan on keepin it to the end, for better or worse.